How can I open up to people more even if it scares me?

I struggled with this so much its not even funny. It's hard to open up to people, especially if you haven't done it before. My advice is start with one person. Just one person you really trust. A person that you feel the closest to. Just one day text them "Hey I need to tell you something". Start off easy. Don't start off with the thing you're most scared to tell them. Ease yourself in and slowly, slowly you'll start to realize your fear of opening up will eventually go away. It'll be scary at first, but it will eventually get so much easier.

Opening up to people can be very hard sometimes. It can be scary to let your guard down and disclose information about yourself to someone. It, also, can be rewarding to open up to someone because it can create a connection and give you someone to help you in hard times. It can also hurt if someone takes advantage of this. When I want to open up to someone I think about the many rewards that come with it and how it allows me to not be alone and have someone who is there for me. I think about how it creates great relationships.

First of all, I read a fantastic book called Rising Strong, by Brené Brown. She discusses the process of becoming more vulnerable. Practises you can use to become yourself a more vulnerable person, and how it's beneficial. She touches on learning how to communicate better, and how to become a stronger person. I highly recommend it. My advice? Baby steps. Don't overshare. Start with people you trust - or complete strangers you'll never see again. Share how you're feeling. Share how things make you feel - music, film, art, the weather, holidays. If someone upsets you, don't internalise it, tell them. Being vulnerable means allowing yourself to trust, to love, to take someone else's advice and apply it your own life. You've already taking the first step - asking for help. That's admirable. You've already started down the path you want to be on. You're already succeeding. Be patient with yourself. Don't rush it. Try to push your boundaries, go a bit outside your comfort zone. But don't go so far as to antagonise yourself or be overwhelmed with anxiety. Understand that these things take time, and everyone has their own pace. With someone you trust, try sharing tidbits about your past or experiences, things you don't talk about. Maybe even something embarrassing that you can laugh about now. Most of all, be kind to yourself. Don't stress too much, that may cause you to clench up more. You're on this journey already. It's a lifelong process. Maybe even look at it as a quest, if that'll help. Maybe consider each side-quest as telling someone close to you something personal, a different thing to each person. The people in your life are there for you. We're here for you. You're there for you. Good luck and much love.

Firstly get to know more about this person by asking a lot of questions about them and genuinely being curious to know the answers. And once u find that you share similarities in your ways of thinking or even if your opinions differ, you can start by justifying your opinions. Once you see the other person opening up, it becomes 10 times more easier for you to open up as well.I had hard times with that and what helped me was trying with a complete stranger I will never see again... (while traveling or in new places) then slowly sharing small peaces with people around me, sometimes telling them that this is something I am telling them in confidence (small things can grow over time)

you just gotta to trust and make sure that you genuinely feel safe around that person, but then again being scared or afraid to let someone in because you did it once and they hurt you its gonna be a struggle. but so what they hurt yo but it dont mean everyone gonna be like that you gotta open up and see what/ who they are let them show you that they care let them be part of your life dont hold back because you will never know if you help out on something that couldve been something amazing that could save you and change you in a good way always be open but not to the point where you u know you gonna get hurt and still open up. open up to those who will care for you and love you for being you goodnight love you babes

Get to know those people and ask their opinions on things in general. Sense who they are and give them what you would want to get when they open up. Only open up to those who put you at ease.Take your time to get to know people. Open up about small things first. A person who tends to be very judgemental, come with an agenda, not listen well, not let you speak well, misunderstand many things you say, ridicule you for anything. They may not be that person to whom you need to open up. The right person is attentive, understanding, tolerant (within reason), and open minded.

You must find someone that you trust. Ask a lot of questions and communicate. Then you can start telling the person little things about you and you will see if he/she is really interested in you. Once you feel comfortable, you can start telling the person more important and bigger things about you. I also sometimes have a problem with that. When I tell someone something personal, I feel vulnerable and that nobody cares. But at the end you will see that you will be relieved and feel better. I know it can be scary, but you can do it!

This is such a great question and I am working on this myself!! How can you trust when you don't actually trust? First of all, we can acknowledge that it is self-abusive to force yourself to trust when you don't trust! It is better to come back to ourselves, and show kindness and gentleness to ourselves in the way we wish others would. Tich Nhat Hanh tells a story of a time when he left the windows open in his home, and when he returned his papers were blown all over the place, so he tidied them up, and lit a fire. I think our minds our similar. Stuff can get blown around, but we can simply tidy up and light the fire to make our mind cozy again. From that place we can rest from the pursuit of the outer world, and return when we feel rested again. This sort of self-love is something I am learning about and constantly evolving with, and ultimately I am opening up to myself to start. Other things that have helped me in the past: 1) learning journalling techniques. I particularly like the technique of writing down my fearful and resentful thoughts, and then my last line will be "thank you god" or "thank you universe" for hearing me and assisting me with these fears where I cannot. Then I sign it, and burn it out back. I learned about it here: https://youtu.be/3N_t0ZSvn_Y Another thing that has helped has been to be a part of group experiences. Reiki trades, social meditation practices, group coaching, group dance therapy, etc etc, whatever is being offered near me on online at the time. In a group, we come together to intentionally work together on issues we are facing, and some people feel more comfortable about certain aspects of being where often we do not, and visa versa. When they share their story or their thoughts, we suddenly feel as though we have PERMISSION to understand ourselves in that same way, and feel less alone. We feel naturally more open in these scenarios without having to really cross any of our own boundaries. Then lastly, a spiritual tool that really helps is CURIOSITY. When we feel constricted, it is because some thing feels threatening to us in a way we don't know how to control. Sometimes this is legitimate! It's pretty normal to feel like hey, I don't wanna open up to this person who is gonna use my story to judge me or make me feel worse. But in some cases, the person will be able to share a more expansive point of view without invalidating you. In other cases, we ourselves will be able to have compassion for a person who is small minded about our situation. In still other cases, it's perfectly fine to give up and go in a whole other direction. Recently, I felt totally shut down around a particular person, and it hurt greatly, but I knew trying to plow through wasn't going to work because I had already tried connecting with her. Instead I wound up on a hike listening to an audio book called "The Book of Joy." I really don't know if it would have been possible for me to have made a better decision or to be more open to her, but I certainly felt good that I was at least opening myself to quality information and moving forward anyways. I hope this helps?

You can't force yourself to open up to people if you're scared about it. But, don't rush, take your time, one step at a time until you get there. And also, please make sure that you've opened up to the right people because it's hard and traumatizing to open up to the wrong ones. But if you're really scared to open up more, you can just not do it. Don't force yourself because it will just add pressure on you but instead, take your time, just take your time. Condition yourself first, ready yourself, and if you're ready to open up more to people then that's it.

If it doesn't scare you even a little, then it's not worth doing. Just go for it. I think you have to look at why it scares you so much and tackle that FIRST because that's the bigger issue here. Talking to people is an exchange, you're not giving them information about yourself for free. And you can do it at your own pace, by your own rules. Keeping that in mind will make it a lot easier to open up. Also, as you get to know the person, if it's right...you'll find yourself being drawn to them and wanting to tell them more about you-maybe even more than they want to know. lol

Well, *scares you* tells you've got fears and it's completely okay to have fears, we all have fears but fears shouldn't control us. In order to be independently talking or independently doing anything you need to set yourself free from all your fears one at a time. I understand opening up can have fears regarding being left or judged, or even trust issues but it's okay. We have the right to take time to choose one of the best people to talk about our problems or even good deeds. Once you worrying about what version of you is created in someone else's mind, I guess it'll get easier for you to talk it out. Thanks.

You could start off slow by being open with someone you are comfortable with. It doesn't necessarily have to be talking about something vulnerable to you, but even just a topic you don't really talk about with the people around you. Finding ways to learn more about others can also help you feel more open to sharing about yourself. You could do this through asking a lot of questions or speaking on topics you're passionate about to see their view. I know opening up at first, can be a scary thing, but knowing that you took that step to challenge yourself will feel so rewarding in the end. :)

I can relate to this question, a lot of times it’s hard to open up to people, especially if we lose their trust early on. However there are ways to gain it back and open up more without having to just throw yourself into it! One way to start opening up to people is to just tell someone how you feel. You don’t have to share any details, just let them know- “I’m sad, I’m mad, I’m happy, etc.”. Following this, you just open up to them more and more and share a little more every time you talk to them at your own pace. Don’t push yourself too hard. At first it’ll feel scary- what if they get upset or find it funny or tell someone else? But as you continue talking, you’ll find that these fears diminish. Don’t open up more than you’re comfortable but if you feel you can trust someone, take a chance. It might even help them to open up too!

slowly start making your feelings more relevant and have support from friends or family. i understand it can be difficult, but if you slowly try to open up more than people will slowly understand how you are feeling. try opening up to people that you are comfortable with first. than from there open up to more people around you until you get comfortable with your situation. this takes time o don't feel like you have to rush anything. just stay calm and remember it is normal for us to feel scared about opening up, but you are going to get through it.

I think to take it a little bit at a time, perhaps you can share something small that you wouldn't have before - when you do - reward yourself for doing it! Congratulate yourself and treat yourself to something nice that you enjoy. No matter how well or not well sharing that thing was, reward yourself anyway! Then next time repeat the same but with something a bit more detailed about yourself. The more you do this the more momentum you will get. It's the little wins that amount to a lot. They keep you going, almost like a game. Hope this helps! You can do it :)

Carefully choose the people you open up to. Start with someone that you fully trust and that you know won’t judge you (it can even be someone you don’t personally know on a support website or forum such as this one), since their open-mindedness, their comforting nature, and their kind and predictable reaction will give you more confidence to gradually open up to more people, including those whose reaction might be unpredictable or frightening to you, if that’s your goal. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to open up to everyone you know, that it’s okay to keep some things to yourself (obviously as long as they’re not hurting you by being kept secret) and that you don’t owe anyone anything (for example: parents claiming they raised you and that you therefore should be telling them what’s wrong and that you should automatically talk to them when something’s wrong, etc.). Listen to your mind, respect your limitations, be kind to yourself when you don’t get the results you were hoping for, be patient and don’t give up. You’ll eventually get where you want to be, even if it takes some time. I believe in you! :)

Start with a person who is supportive and makes you feel good when around them. If you feel secure with them, you can tell them that it's something you would like to work on, that you trust them, and would they be ok if you practice with them. You will feel safe and they will be honoured to be considered worthy of your trust. This in itself is a first step to connecting and opening up. Be sure it is with someone who will be kind and respectful of your honesty. Gradually you will feel more relaxed with them and may start to feel you can open up with others.

Know that your feelings are validated and you are not alone. Everything takes time and this is one of those things that will gradually get easier. First give yourself credit when you do open up. Don’t feel like you need to become an open book. Open up when you feel comfortable doing so (e.g. common interests and experiences). Each of us as human beings have a lot to offer when we open up about certain things. This allows us to build connections, get to know others, and also get to know ourselves more. Try to look for the positives in opening up.

Take it slow. Figure out what it is you're comfortable talking about, and start with that. If being around someone you care about and trust helps with this fear, talk with them. You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to, and you can take it as slow as you want. If you want to talk with a professional about this, tell them that you're scared or nervous, they'll understand. Do what makes you feel safe and comfortable, and go at your own pace. It'll become easier to open up, it just takes practice like any other skill.

You don't have to talk to them face to face if it's too hard. Maybe text them, write them a letter about how you feel at first. Talking can be very hard, and if they'll already know your problems by reading your letter it will be easier for you. I hope this can help you out. Looking at them while talking about it is also pretty hard, you don't have to do that at first but after some time you're gonna feel more comfortable and accepted. I believe in you just like you should believe in yourself. Hope this helps you out!

Find something you have in common with a person. This can help you talk to someone and find something you both like. Say if they are wearing a cool shirt with a TV shows logo on it. Comment on it and say you like that show too. Or start with complementing their hair. Little ice breakers can go a long way. Do not worry about it being too awkward it takes practice and the other person most likely will be a little awkward at first too. Once you are able to connect you can start to let the person know little bits about your life and personality.

Remember that the person you are reaching out to is just that - a person. Just like you! Think about how you would feel if someone opened up to you. You would probably be honored that they trusted you enough to talk to them, and try to help them in any way that you could. Most people that you would plan on opening up to would probably feel the same way as you would if someone opened up to you. Also keep in mind that you are not a burden. You deserve to be loved and listened to, just like everyone else!

It really depends on who you are trying to open up to. Realize though most people are more focused on their own faults and flaws than the miniscule details we tend to obsess about when we are anxious, self-conscious and feeling insecure. A way to go easy is opening up to people who share something in common with you, so widening your circle of acquaintances and thereby your pool of friends to pick from by joining book circles, if you are spiritual-religious organizations, volunteering with a charity can really help you find people to talk to in person. It kind of depends on the gravity of what you want to talk about, how quickly you open up to someone about it. It will get easier the more you practice talking to people and you'll gradually get better at it and discerning who to talk to and who not to talk to. The other side of that is, of course, things you are scared of, that you don't do, are only going to get more and more difficult and start to build dread the longer you put them off. So its really important to work on and stretch your comfort zone from time to time, because without that, what you are comfortable doing, say going places/ or even who you are comfortable talking to, will naturally contract and get smaller and smaller over time when you start avoiding things due to anxiety. I'm glad you are working on this now. It will prevent it from being bigger later.

In order to connect and relate to others, the only way is to start letting yourself open up to others. It might be scary and nerve-wrecking to let others in, but making strong relationships (any kind, friendship, romantic etc.) requires opening up and communicating to each other. Start by taking small steps, by sharing common interests, and asking questions. Taking these smaller steps will allow you to feel more comfortable in sharing more and making deeper connections. Remember, it might be awkward at first but doing that will allow you to get closer to fight your fear. Once you realize there are greater results you gain from overcoming your fear, you will be more willing to open up!

I've found that if I feel confident in my boundaries and expectations that I'm more comfortable opening up to people. I also choose how vulnerable I am willing to be based on the context. For example, how well do I know this person, have they earned my trust, and is this an appropriate relationship for me to share sensitive information? Some things I only share with my partner or therapist. Some things I would never share with a co-worker. I also share a little information, and if they also open up a little than I know the relationship is reciprocal. I also look at how a person talks about other people in deciding whether to open up to them.

For me, I just have to push through. I'm still scared while I'm doing it, but it gets easier once I start. I started with someone I trusted the most. For a while, it was only him I could be open with. But since doing so more and more with him, it has become a bit easier with others. I also found that typing it out is much easier than speaking. For my boyfriend, if I am having too much trouble verbally opening up, I will sit there and type it out on my phone, and then show him. So finding the way that is easiest to express yourself is also very helpful.

This may just not be a bad thing! You may be not opening up to people because they may be just dangerous! Trust how you feel and do not push yourself too much! Only open up with those you feel safe around! Let the process be a natural and a happy one! Just as you opened up with this question here, you may do so in another space. Depending on the circumstance and situation! Always honor your feelings and how you feel!

I've been having trouble don't the same. I'm a cryer and I hate when people see me cry. I'm going to do what I do best, and give you advice that I can't follow myself. Just be yourself. Be you; not the person who people think you are, not the person who people want you to be, not the person you were and not the person you want to be. Just be you. But your uniquely amazing self and everything will figure itself out. And if some people don't accept that, then, too bad for them because they missed out on you. Don't let people's words define you and most importantly, have a closed ear to everyone's judgement. I believe in YOU. All the best. -Mir

Just do it! That’s my best advice. Go out and do things that are out of your comfort zone. The more you do this the less anxious you’ll feel and it will start to feel more natural and less forced or scary. Try Joining a online community with peers of same interest and age group. Try an online community. This is an easier option where you don’t have to extend yourself too much and can go at your own space. It’s also likely you will naturally just want to open up more once you get into the flow of it.

it's not easy to open up to people, but it can help one build stronger friendships or relationships. if you want to open up to somebody and you're fearful of doing that, make sure that you trust the other person enough and that opening up to them won't cause any more damage. there are countless ways to open up, but the most suitable for you would be the ones you feel the most comfortable with. you can try to talk more with them, or spend more time together and try to volunteer a small piece of information each time. small steps will eventually help you become more comfortable with opening up to the other person.